Take a trip back more than 60 years to the Shropshire of the 1960s, when everyday life looked very different to today.
From bustling workplaces, school classrooms, and parish gatherings to changing landmarks, visiting stars, and quiet countryside moments, these archive pictures capture the people and places that shaped our county's heritage. Presented in no particular order, the gallery features long-lost buildings, early New Town developments, proud local traditions, and plenty of snapshots that are sure to spark fond memories.
Whether you remember these days first-hand or are simply curious to see how Shropshire looked during a decade of dramatic change, take a look through our gallery and see how many of the people, places, and scenes you recognise.
What aspect of 1960s Shropshire life do you miss the most, or is there a particular local event from that era you still remember clearly? Share your memories in the comments.
- In case you missed it: 27 rare photos revealing life inside one of Shropshire's most secret establishments. View them here.
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1. School memories and air raid mounds in Shrewsbury
Miss H M Oliver stands proudly beside her pupils in this archive photograph date-stamped 25 July 1969. The former headmistress of Shrewsbury Coton Mount Infants had moved on to lead Meole Brace C of E Infants School when this end-of-term portrait was taken. Gathering the children outdoors, the class sits gathered against an earth-mounded air raid shelter, a leftover piece of wartime history that served as a familiar playground feature for generations of Shrewsbury schoolchildren. Were you one of the pupils pictured with Miss Oliver in 1969, or do you remember playing around the old air raid shelter at the school? | Shropshire Star archive
2. A crane driver's view of Donnington's workshops
This overhead view of the artillery section at 34 Central Workshop, Donnington COD, was taken in July 1965. Seen from the crane driver's position, the photograph offers a rare glimpse inside the busy workshop and the machinery, equipment and workers that formed part of its daily routine. It captures a very different working world, when large workshops like this were an important part of the local landscape. Do you remember Donnington COD or 34 Central Workshop? Did you or someone in your family work there during the 1960s? | Shropshire Star archive
3. A warm smile and a quick pint in mid-century Shrewsbury
Framed by flat caps and dimpled glass mugs, a cheerful landlady pours a drink through a traditional pub serving hatch in Shrewsbury, likely captured between the late 1950s and early 1960s. Though the exact location and the identity of the locals remain unknown, the lively atmosphere perfectly preserves the simple pleasure of an after-work pint and a friendly bit of banter in a classic Shropshire local. Do you recognise this cosy serving hatch, or do you remember frequented pubs around Shrewsbury from this era? | Shropshire Star archive
4. Schooldays and a festival at Princes Street
Pupils at Princes Street School in Wellington put on The Fortune Teller during their festival day in July 1962. It’s a lovely glimpse of schooldays in Wellington more than 60 years ago, with the children taking part in a special event to remember. Do you remember festival days at Princes Street School? Were you or someone in your family among the pupils taking part? | Picture courtesy of Allan Frost